Former USC standout Taylor Mays was a big name heading into the 2010 draft but his draft stock took a hit leading up to the draft and consequently caused him to fall to the second-round where he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers. Several teams passed on him because of questions about his overall ability but it was considered by many to be a great pick by the 49ers.
Well, Mays’s rookie season wound up being underwhelming year to say the least. He wound up losing the starting safety job to Reggie Smith, a career special teams player, and finished the season with only two passes defensed. 49ers head coach Mike Singletary wasn’t exactly great at getting his players to perform at a high level but Mays still didn’t show much promise during his first year in the NFL.
Now that the 49ers have a new coaching regime in place, players like Mays are going to have to prove their worth if they plan on being on the teams roster once the 2011 season is underway.
“The simple effect is that nobody is guaranteed a position,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said while at the NFL owners meetings. “A new staff comes in, we have a new system offensively, defensively and on special teams. Very few holdover position coaches. So, it’s going to be competition at its finest. Roll out the ball and may the best man win.”
It appears that Mays has his work cut out for him and the current lockout isn’t going to help him make any positive impressions on the new coaching staff. There’s still time for him to turn things around but he should be concerned.
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